For the past four years, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongsideActing Mayor and Councilman Scott Katz, witnessing first hand how hard he advocates for his Ward 4 constituents and how committed he is to improving our entire community. Scott’s love of public service is evident if you’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with him at our various town events. With his 6’4” frame and warm smile, he’s hard to miss.
But what is less visible is Scott’s giant heart and eagerness to make a difference. He is not one to seek the spotlight, but instead seeks consensus by working behind the scenes to bring people together.
It’s why he’s happiest when he’s leading and participating in community building initiatives, whether it’s the popular Tour de Westfield bike tour, the House of Worship tour, the Chalk the Walk events at the elementary schools, or the Westfield baseball and Memorial Day parades.
It’s why Scott insisted that he be appointed as the council liaison to the newly formed Human Relations Advisory Commission whose mission is to foster a community culture of inclusivity and acceptance, which is at the core of why Scott ran for office in the first place.
Most importantly, Scott is a tireless advocate for quality of life issues that matter to Ward 4 residents whether it be crime prevention, pedestrian safety, or tree preservation. He has been most vocal about making improvements to stormwater infrastructure after visiting flooded Ward 4 neighbors in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ida. As chair of the Public Works Committee, he championed the purchase of the town’s new underground pipeline inspection equipment so that residents could have the reassurance that their storm drains would function properly in advance of the next inevitable storm.
Scott’s commitment to Ward 4 extends to improving Houlihan/Sid Fay and Tamaques Parks, which is why he requested to be appointed as the council liaison to the Recreation Commission. Thanks to his leadership, next year Houlihan/Sid Fay will be getting new bathroom facilities, improved handicap access, and expanded parking to address safety concerns. Much of it will be paid for from the proceeds of a new cell tower that is being installed in the conservation center (you’ll be getting better cell service too!)
Scott has also advocated for upgrading and expanding the recreation facilities at Tamaques Park while also reducing traffic and street parking in the adjacent neighborhoods by adding a new entrance and exit off of Lamberts Mill Road.
Scott also led the efforts for the Edison Fields proposal because of his commitment to expanding field capacity for the town’s sports leagues and our Westfield High School student athletes. He thoughtfully sought a solution that balanced the needs of our young athletes while mitigating the impact on the neighborhood, resulting in significant proposed improvements to the project’s stormwater infrastructure.
Scott’s support for the Edison Fields project, as well as for One Westfield Place, exemplifies the councilman that I have known him to be. Thoughtful, politically courageous, and committed to doing what’s right and not necessarily what’s easy.
Scott’s integrity, leadership, and experience are many reasons why I enthusiastically endorse him for reelection to the Town Council, and ask Ward 4 residents to cast their vote for Scott Katz on November 7 so that we can keep Westfield moving forward.
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